To　help　in　the　comparison　of　excitation　sources　for　time-domain　airborne　electromagnetic　(TD-AEM)　systems,　we　develop　an　heuristic　model　of　the　response　of　the　ground,　represented　by　a　conducting　loop.　For　our　comparison,　our　model　includes　the　system　waveforms.　This　model　also　includes　a　reception　interval　for　on-time　measurements,　allowing　the　simulation　and　analysis　of　different　electrical　targets　in　both　on-time　and　off-time.　The　results　show　that,　for　high-resistance　targets,　the　use　of　the　rectangular　pulse　excitation　has　the　greatest　response　intensity　during　the　offtime　period,　and　for　low-resistance　targets,　the　use　of　the　half-sine　or　the　triangular　pulse　excitation　has　a　higher　signal-to-noise　ratio　during　the　on-time　period.　Results　also　show　the　influence　of　the　pulse　width　on　the　response　and　may　help　in　the　selection　of　the　pulse　width　while　designing　a　survey.　©　2017　AMSE　Press.　All　rights　reserved.